Exercise System

ABSTRACT

An exercise system, in a first mode of operation, provides for strengthening of the legs of a user and enhancing the user&#39;s ability to develop and maintain balance and, in a second mode of operation, for providing various forms of core, arm, and upper body training. The system includes two resilient hemispheres each having a projecting dome and, on an opposite side, a rigid substantially flat weighted base in peripheral relationship about each hemisphere. A circumferential peripheral ring is proportioned to engage a periphery of the base of each hemisphere. An outer area of the periphery of each base includes engagement elements with means connecting rings secured to the engagement elements. Resistance training bands of selectable resistance are securable to the connecting rings. A push-up handle of each hemisphere is press-fittably securable into an axial recess with the weighted base and selectably connects to different weights within the recess.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A. Area of the Invention

The invention relates to an exercise system which employs multiple exercise elements and is sufficiently compact for use by travelers.

B. Prior Art

Exercise systems which make use of a resilient sphere or hemisphere have been known in the art for some time. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,801,140 (1989) to Bergeron, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,357,077 (2013) to Taylor et al. Perhaps best known in the art is the BOSUBALL Single Hemisphere Exercise Device, which is reflected in various patents including U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,575,885, and 6,554,753 and various other patents, all held by Weck et al. None of these patents or the inventions thereof are directed to a concurrent use of multiple resilient hemispheric elements for exercise of other purposes. Accordingly, the exercises which may be considered in the use of such prior art are inherently limited.

Further, relatively few patents are concerned with exercises for the improvement of one's balance. However, included in this category is U.S. Pat. No. 3,716,229 (1973) to Van Der Cleyen et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,474 (1999) to Romero, and U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 2013/0316886 (2013) to Lynch et al.

In summary, the use of multiple hemispherical elements with other components of the larger exercise system do not appear in any prior art of which the within inventor is aware.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An exercise system, in a first mode of operation, provides use of a pair of hemispheres for strengthening of the legs of a user and enhancing the user's ability to develop and maintain balance and, in a second mode of operation for providing various forms of core, arm, and upper body training. The system comprises a pair of resilient hemispheres, each having a projecting dome and, on a bottom of each hemisphere, a rigid substantially flat base extending peripherally about each hemisphere; a circumferential peripheral ring proportioned to engage said periphery of the base of the resilient hemisphere; an outer area by the periphery including two strap means; and handles therefore connecting means, each securable at opposite sides of the base of each hemisphere; engagement means; and resistant training bands of selectable resistance securable at one end thereof to said connecting means and at an opposite end thereof of said handles.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an exercise system which is compact enough for use by travelers, packable in one's luggage and versatile enough to enable performance of a number of important fitness exercises by persons of varying physical characteristics and degrees of fitness.

It is a further object to provide an exercise system for improvement of the balance of a user while strengthening of the lower body.

It is another object to provide a system of the above type that may be readily converted into an assembly for upper body, core and arm exercises.

The above and yet other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the hereinafter Brief Description of the Drawings, Detailed Description of the Invention and Claims appended herewith.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of one hemisphere of the inventive exercise device, showing a bottom cover thereof in phantom.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of one hemisphere of the exercise device showing a handle of the device after placement thereinto.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a handle assembly of the device with associated selectable weighting elements.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view showing the locking into place of a handle of the system.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the center handle area of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the elements of one hemisphere of the present system.

FIG. 8 is a view showing two of the devices of the system as used for lower body and leg exercises.

FIG. 9 is a view showing two of the devices as used for upper body exercises.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the perspective views of FIGS. 1 and 2, and side of an upper hemisphere 12, inner in which each hemisphere 12 is defined by a flat peripheral and weighted rigid base 16, 20 and 30. See FIGS. 3 to 5. It should be appreciated that various resilient properties of the dome 12 relative to weighted base 20 may be accomplished by methods that are air pressure, these, for example, including the use of foam or other resilient materials to impart to the dome 12 of each hemisphere a desired property or degree of resilience. While the figures show each hemisphere as a substantially dome-like element, it is to be appreciated that within the scope of the present invention, such hemispheres may be replaced by a plurality of resilient disk-like elements to achieve the same effect. See FIG. 8.

In the embodiments discussed herein, a stabilizing base 14 includes a substantially planar circular annular recess 15 (see FIGS. 3 and 5), such that a so-called push-up handle 16 and its base plate 22 can be twist-fitted thereinto (see FIGS. 5 and 6) after selected weights 20 have been engaged at the inner side of region 22. See FIGS. 4, 6 and 7. Such a twist fit connection permits rotation of the wrists and arms during push-ups. See FIG. 9. The purpose of such variously weighted push-up handles 16 used with interchangeable weights 20 is two-fold, the first being to provide the ability to modify the degree of difficulty of upper body exercise of the type shown in FIG. 9 and, secondly, a selection of a degree of stability of the exercise hemisphere 12 that is comfortable to the user. Further, exercise handles 16 and their associated weighted support base 22 may be employed as free weights, if released from weights 20 for release clips 23, in any number of different upper body exercises. See FIGS. 4, 8 and 9.

As may be further noted in FIGS. 3 and 5, each hemisphere is preferably provided with said stabilizing base 14. At least one resistance band connector 25 is provided upon flat base 10. See FIG. 8. Said connectors are in turn selectably connectable to a variety of resistance bands 25 and to associated handles 29 (see FIG. 8) or other means that connect to said band 25. Further, the resistance bands 25 may be color coded to match the weight level of selectable color coded push-up plates 20. See FIG. 4. Thereby, a rather slight individual would use Level 1 resistance bands (color-coded blue) in combination with Level 1 weighted push-up bands (also color-coded blue). At the other extreme, a very muscular or large individual would select the highest level resistance band (color-coded black) and, for those upper body exercises shown in FIGS. 4 and 9, would employ the heaviest push-up plates also color-coded black.

As may be seen in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6, each push-up handle 16 and associated handle weighted base plate 22 may be twist-fittably locked 27 into recess 15 about base 22 of each hemisphere 12. This capability entails the use of an assembly 27 having a complemental spiral pattern to accomplish an interlock between the push-up handle and the assembly 22 within recess 15. See FIGS. 4 and 5. A similar strategy may be employed in embodiments using flat resilient pads in lieu of hemisphere 12.

An internal weight may be employed within a resilient hemisphere 12 which is embedded within foam, compressed air or another resilient material to enhance stability as may be desirable for certain individuals given that, for many users, an objective of exercises of the type shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is to enhance one's balance or stability upon a pair of hemispheres otherwise having an inherent degree of instability. However, for individuals for whom this is too difficult, a more stable type of element may be employed in lieu of hemisphere 12.

In the exploded view of FIG. 7 is shown said hemisphere 8 which is surrounded by weighted bases 20. Within the bottom of each hemisphere fits supporting region 14. Therein rubber pad 30 is first placed, followed by screw lock 32. Beneath rubber pad 30 is placed said assembly 34 into which weights 20 selectably fit. Therebelow is handle base plate 22. Handle 16 is held to the base plate by rotation lock 36, release clip 23 and handle overlay of inside 22. Also provided are a handle cover 44 and a system cover.

It is to be appreciated that a preferred diameter of each hemisphere above described is in a range of about 14 to about 17 inches, while that of most single hemisphere exercise devices, such as BOSUBALL, exhibit a diameter of about 34 inches.

As above noted, the system set forth herein is particularly adapted in terms of its volume and weight for travelers and is practical for persons of all physical types and level of fitness.

While there has been shown and described above the preferred embodiment of the instant invention it is to be appreciated that the invention may be embodied otherwise than is herein specifically shown and described and that, within said embodiment, certain changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the parts without departing from the underlying ideas or principles of this invention as set forth in the Claims appended herewith. 

I claim:
 1. An exercise system, in a first mode of operation, for strengthening the legs of a user and enhancing the user's ability to develop and maintain balance and, in a second mode of operation, for providing various forms of core, arm, and upper body training, the system comprising: (a) a pair of resilient hemispheres, each having a projecting dome and, on an opposite side thereof, a rigid substantially group of flat weighted base in fluid-tight peripheral relationship about a circumference edge of each hemisphere; (b) a periphery of the base of each resilient hemisphere having at least one engagement means; (c) at least one connecting each secured to a corresponding engagement means of the base; and (d) resistant training bands of selectable resistance secured at one end thereof to said connecting ring; and (e) a handle securable to opposite sides of each selected resistance band.
 2. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising: (f) for each hemisphere a push-up handle securable into a recess within each base of each hemisphere.
 3. The system as recited in claim 2, further comprising: a plurality of interchangeable weights selectably connectible an assembly including each push-up handle, to modify characteristics of push-ups accomplished with the handle or for use as free weights when said push-up handle is disconnected from said base by release means.
 4. The system as recited in claim 3, in which a size of the dome of the hemisphere defines a dimension sufficient to accommodate a foot of a user while standing on each of said domes and also while engaging handles of resistance training bands attached at opposite sides of each hemisphere in which a pair of hemispheres may be employed for use of the system for upper or lower body training with two hemispheres.
 5. The system as recited in claim 4, in which said resistance bands comprises: a plurality of bands corresponding in resistance and color to a color of said respective interchangeable weights of said handle.
 6. The system as recited in claim 4, in which a diameter of each hemisphere defines a range of about 12 to about 17 inches.
 7. The system as recited in claim 1, in which a size of the dome of the hemisphere defines a dimension sufficient to accommodate a foot of a user while standing on each of said domes and also while engaging handles of resistance training bands attached at opposite sides of each hemisphere in which a pair of hemispheres may be employed for use of the system for upper or lower body training with two hemispheres.
 8. The system as recited in claim 7, in which said resistance bands comprises: a plurality of bands corresponding in resistance and color to a color of said respective interchangeable weights of said handle.
 9. The system as recited in claim 7, in which a diameter of each hemisphere defines a range of about 12 to about 17 inches. 